Rangers notes: David LeNeveu serves as backup goalie

LOS ANGELES — Journeyman David LeNeveu dressed as Henrik Lundqvist’s backup for Game 1 with goalie Cam Talbot unavailable and listed as day to day with an unspecified injury.

LeNeveu, 31, was a second-round pick of the Coyotes in 2002 but last played in an NHL game April 3, 2011 for the Blue Jackets, and, prior to that, had not played in the league since Nov. 24, 2006.

Coach Alain Vigneault has revealed little of what happened to Talbot, 26, but the Rangers are insisting his injury is hockey-related. Talbot relieved Lundqvist in the Rangers’ 7-4 loss at Montreal in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals and dressed as his backup as the Rangers eliminated the Canadiens, 1-0, in Game 7 a week ago.

But Talbot has not practiced with the team since and the Rangers brought in Jason Missiaen, who split this season between Greenville (ECHL) and Hartford (AHL), to work with the Rangers’ scratches Wednesday morning.

"Because Talbot is day to day," Vigneault said when asked why the organization felt the need to bring the 6-foot-8 Missiaen, who has yet to play in the NHL, to Los Angeles.

LeNeveu played last season in Austria, his second, non-consecutive season overseas, and split this season between South Carolina (ECHL), Providence (AHL) and Hartford.

"It’s been a crazy year," said LeNeveu, who has played 22 NHL games.

"It’s been a testament just to sticking with the program."

WEST COAST RYAN: This Stanley Cup Final features two of the best young defensemen in the NHL in the Rangers’ Ryan McDonagh and the Kings’ Drew Doughty, both 24.

Doughty entered Game 1 with four goals and 12 assists in 21 playoff games and McDonagh, regaining his form after a late-season shoulder injury, had three goals and 10 assists in 20 games.